Binder strap guide track



Dec. 25, 1962 J. G. FELDKAMP 3,070,001

BINDER STRAP GUIDE TRACK a fg- Filed July 14, 1958 INVENIOR.

Jdzm 11m komp BY W Unite This invention relates to improvements inbinder strap guide tracks and particularly to a type which releasablyretains the binder strap in a fixed path as it is guided about an objectto be bound with the binder strap.

Presently, it is quite common to provide binder strap guide tracks inthe form of closed or partially closed loop tracks for guiding a binderstrap about an object to be bound. These are adaptable for and have beenadapted to both automatic and semi-automatic strapping machinesemploying power means to feed the binder strap through and around thetrack, and also to hand strapping apparatus where the binderstrap is fedby hand into the strap guide track means. Oftentimes the tracks used areof channel shape without any retaining means for the binder strap. insuch a case the tracks are small enough that the force resulting fromthe natural springiness of the looped binder strap or the weight of thestrap or both keeps the binder strap pressing outwardly against thestrap track as the binder strap is fed through it and conformed to thelooped track shape. In other cases, releasable means in the form ofspring like or spring loaded clips or spring loaded side guides areprovided in the track for retaining the binder strap. Releasable meansof this sort is required especially when the guide is of fairly largesize and length. One of the disadvantages of the conventional releasablemeans for a strap guide track is that it is usually relatively expensiveto manufacture and oftentimes is limited in use because of its tendencyto sometimes snag and kink the binder strap, especially when the binderstrap is of light gauge.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improvedbinder strap guide track which is of extremely simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture, versatile in use, and which worksefiiciently without injury to even the lighter gauge binder straps.

The invention can be better understood by referring to the accompanyingdrawings in which.

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of the major portions of a strappingmachine embodying the binder strap guide track of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a right side elevation of the machine of FIG. 1 as viewedalong the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the binder strap guide track as viewedalong the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3a shows a sectional view of a modified binder strap guide track asit would appear viewed along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a wound spool of the binder strap guide track material usedin the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 shows a container as it would appear after being bound with abinder strap while using the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,comprises a base member 1 provided with lateral flanges 2. The basemember 1 is used to support the entire unit. Attached to the rear of thebase member 1 is a vertical upright support 3 which provides an L.-shapewith the base member 1. Secured adjacent the upper end of the uprightsupport 3 are two horizontally extending arms 4 and 5 which extendtoward the front of the unit. Arm 4 is a strap guide track support, aswill be described, and arm 5 is provided with a laterally extendingshaft 6 which rotatably supports an idler States atent fiice feed wheel7 and this arm 5 also supports a bracket 8 on which is mounted anelectric motor 9. The shaft 1% of the motor 9 supports a feed wheel 11which is keyed to the shaft 10 and driven thereby as the shaft rotateswhen the motor 9 is electrically energized. The forward end of the basemember 1 is provided with an upright member 12 fastened to it.

Positioned to contact the inner surfaces, 13 of member 12, 14 of member1, 15 of member 3, and 16 of member 4, is a continuous length offlexible track 17 which is bent with a curvilinear shape in three cornerportions 13, 19 and 20 to provide a modified C-shape as shown in FIG. 2.While in this shape, the track 17 is retained in position by means of aplurality of clips 21 which are fastened to the members 12, 1, 3 and 4by means of screws 22.

Details of the shape of the clips 21 in relation to the track 17 isshown specifically in FIG. 3. The track 17, is one embodiment, consistsof a cross sectional shape comprising a rectangular portion 23 which isconnected at its mid-portion to a hollow circular tubular portion 24..The rectangular portion 23 may be integral with the tubular portion 24and may be formed by casting or extrusion in a single piece. The tubularportion 24 is split at 25 along its entire length to divide the tubularportion into two halves 24a and 24b. The rectangular portion 23 extendsfor the width of the upright member 12 against which it is positionedand the clips 21 are of L-shape con sisting of a longer portion 26connected to a shorter flange 27. The flange 27 is connected over theends of the rectangular portions 23 of the track 17 to hold the track 17positioned against the upright member 12. The screws 22 hold the clipssecurely fastened in place. Although only the connection to the member12 is shown in cross section, the connection of the clips 21 to theother members 1, 3 and 4 is substantially the same.

The material from which the track 17 is manufactured can be of manydifferent types of flexible plastic or of rubber or other equivalentmaterials. It may be sufiiciently flexible that it can be provided in acoil as shown in FIG. 4 where it is wound on a spool 28.. This makes itvery convenient for manufacture of a strap track because a desiredlength of track can be cut as needed from the compact spool.

In addition to the track 17, a flat metal ribbon 29 is passed throughthe entire length of track 17 and the ends 30 and 31 of the ribbon 29are bent over the ends of the track 17, as shown in FIG. 2, in order tokeep the ribbon 29 retained in a relatively fixed position within thetrack 17.

In operation, a supply of strap 32 is drawn off from a supply of strapwhich may be in the form of a coil (not shown) mounted on a conventionaltype coil support or unreeler (not shown). The strap 32 is fed in thedirection of the arrow 33 and may be fed either by hand or by means ofthe feed wheels 7 and 11 driven by the electric motor 9. The strap isfed into the upper end of the track 17, entirely through it, and out ofthe lower end so that its leading end 34 extends upwardly from the lowerend of the track 17. Conventional roller type support members 35 areprovided on either side of the unit, as shown in FIG. 1, and these areprovided to support a container 36 or other object to be bound in aposition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. With the container 36 in position,the strap 32 which is in the form of a loop encircled about thecontainer 36 is contracted onto the container by pulling the strap inthe direction of the arrow 37 until it fits relatively snugly on it.When pulling the strap 32 to contract it, it is pulled out of thetubular portion 24 of the track 17 by the strap itself pressing againstthe two halves 24a and 24!) which are flexible enough to be spread apartas shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3. As they spread apart sutficiently,a progressive opening is provided through which the strap 32progressively leaves the track 17. After the strap leaves the track andis contracted onto the container 36, the two halves 24a and 2412 aresufficiently resilient to return together and narrow the slit or split25. At this time the leading end 34 of the strap and its supply end 38are in overlapping relation with each other so that a conventionalstrapping tool or tools can be used to tension the binder strap 32tightly on the container 36 and then secure the ends together byproviding an interloclo ing type joint between them and a tubular metalseal 39, as shown in FIG. 5. it is not deemed necessary to show such atool or tools because they are well known in the art and many diiferentvarieties are available for use in this manner.

In order to facilitate removal of the strap from between the feed wheels7 and 11 when contracting the strap loop onto the object being bound, itis desirable that the feed wheel 7 be mounted on a shaft which isconnected the strap is pulled downwardly, the block 40 and the feedwheel 7 are free to pivot downwardly to a position as shown in phantomlines at 42 in FIG. 1. In that position, the strap is free to fall outfrom between the feed wheels.

The purpose of the metal ribbon 29 running through 9 the strap track 17is to provide a hard and smooth surfaced backing to minimize frictionand thereby facilitate the feeding of the strap into the track 17.

A modified form of the strap track is shown in FIG. 3a. It consists of acircular tubular portion 43 which is divided into two halves 43a and 43bbecause it is split at 44 along its entire length similar to the split25 of the track shown in FIG. 3. With the use of this form of track 43,the clips 21 are not required. Screws 45 are provided directly throughthe track to fasten the track to the members 12, 1, 3 and 4. Similarly,the metal ribbons 29, used as a low friction backing surface for thebinder strap, is also provided in the same manner as for the track 17.In operation, this track acts identically to the one shown in FIG-3whereby, when the strap 32 is withdrawn from the track, the two halves43a and 43b deflect outwardly as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3a.

Although the invention is shown without any power equipment except asindicated by the strap feed means associated with the feed wheels 7 and11, this type of binder strap guide track can be embodied in manydifferent types of hand operated, semi-automatic, or automatic machineswherein a binder strap guide track is required. It should be furtherunderstood that the invention also can be manufactured in otherdifferent ways without departing from the true scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for encircling a binder strap about an object to be boundincluding a binder strap receiving and guiding track extending in a pathabout the location where the object to be bound is positioned, saidtrack comprising, a single longitudinally continuous strip of flexibleand resilient rubber-like material which allows the strip to bewithdrawn from a coil of said strip, and readily bent longitudinallyinto any of a plurality of track shapes, said strip having twolongitudinally continuous side walls integrally formed as part of saidstrip of said rubber-like material so that the side walls are likewiseflexible and resilient to permit their yielding and returning to shapewhen deformed by force of a binder strap moving between the side wallsor by externally applied force, said side walls being joinedlongitudinally to a central base portion of said strip Where the base isprovided with means for connecting the strip to a separate supportframe, said side walls being spaced from each other and convergent in adirection away from said base to provide the inside surfaces of the sidewalls with gradual slopes extending from said base to the free edges ofthe side walls, said free edges being divided from each other by a slitpositioned in central longitudinal alignment with the longitudinaldirection of said base of said strip, said gradual slopes of the insidesurfaces of the side walls allowing a binder strap positioned betweenthe side walls to be withdrawn out through said slit by a camming of thestrip against the side walls with a minimum of eftort because of saidgradual slopes of said inside surfaces of the side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,780,986 Ritenour Feb. 12, 1957 2,853,938 Hall et a1. Sept. 30, 19582,913,270 Sachsenroder et a1 Nov. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 565,118Germany Nov. 26, 1932

